Placemaking In Practice

Building our communities around places?

Placemaking is a practical and overarching approach to improve neighbourhood, community, city or town.

It motivates individuals to collectively rediscover and re-imagine the public spaces as the heart of each area.

Placemaking is referred to a collaborative method through which we can shape our public areas to facilitate and maximise joint value, all for the greater good.

Picture is courtesy of minneapolismn dot gov.

Important Principles of Placemaking

With a modern placemaking approach communities get the prerogatives they require to regenerate their communities. We refer to using the 8 key principles of placemaking, acquired by some organisation related to placemaking which have conducted practical research with over 1000 communities in more than 30 countries. These principles help communities assimilate various different views into a vision, and then interpret that vision into a plan and program of uses, and to finally witness the plan being executed correctly.

It is important to have the community’s input in the process of placemaking, including an understanding of a specific place and how the great places effectively cultivate social networks and initiatives. These 8 principles have helped many residents of many communities across the globe, sometimes many stakeholders have found themselves entangled in those awesome community projects.

Fundamental Placemaking Principles For Innovative Cities

1

Knowledge of the community.

Individuals who utilise public areas frequently offer the most helpful perspective and insights into how the areas function. They can also help by identifying problems that are to be considered while improving the space.

2

Designing versus Creating a place.

The design is a very significant part of making a place however not the only element. Giving access and making active uses, economic opportunity, and programming is usually a lot more significant as compared to design.

3

Do it together.

A better public area needs partners who will provide innovative ideas, financial and political support along with helping with planning the activities. Partners can also expand the impact of a civic space by organising schedules.

4

We never try, we never know.

Each community has pessimists. Whenever an idea is stretched beyond the reach of the institute or its jurisdiction and the official authorities say, “It cannot be done” it normally “we have never done things this way”.

5

Observation is key.

Many people take an extra step to adapt to a place that suits their lifestyle. A high curb can be used as a place to sit and sort mail. A church might provide front spaces for all communities to relax in.

6

Vision as a means for development.

A vision for a public area infers to its activities, uses, character and the meaning in the community. This vision can be defined by the individuals who live or work in or near the spaces.

7

The form vs The functionality

It is important to remember the active uses when working on the design and rehabilitation of a space and spaces. Designing spaces are not just limited to form but also factor in functionality.

8

Triangulation technique

The concept of triangulation means placing components beside each other in a way that promotes activity. For instance, trash holder, a bench, and a coffee kiosk positioned close to a bus stop produce synergy.